1950's Shoebox Concept Drawings - Shoebox Showcase

It seems rather ironic that Detroit's flood of late '40s and early '50s passenger cars, derided by the automotive intelligentsia 45 years ago as "four-wheel bedrooms," are the very cars that now offer hot rodders the most practical, dependable, and affordable platforms for extended cruising. The cars we have in mind are Motown's "shoeboxes," the first to feature overhead-valve engines, automatic transmissions, independent front suspensions, vast interior space, and visual delights galore. Moreover, they were designed to be driven comfortably for long periods.

Over the years, the more conventional '49-'51 Fords and Mercs, and the mid-'50s GM and Chrysler products, have generated the most interest. But Chip Foose, Boyd's trend-setting automotive stylist, felt that some of the lesser-known models offered the same visual and mechanical advantages as their more popular brethren. So he came up with this series of mild to wild sketches contrasting a simple approach with that of a full-boogie restyle. But remember, as in the case of George Poteet's Troy Trepanier-conceived Sniper, all are intended to be highway-hauling "power touristas."

Bel Air Of The Ball
Classic tri-five Chevys are cool, but so are '54 Bel Airs. Foose's less-aggressive approach combines a simple, semicustom shell (handle shave, nose and deck, emblems removed, reworked bumpers) with modified OEM suspension components, 18- and 20-inch '60s-style mags, and a late-model powertrain. The paint job can be a single shade or contrasting colors.

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The full-tilt version-soon to become a reality for North Dakota's Wes Rydell-features a fabricated frame, a late-model Corvette suspension and drivetrain (with the engine dressed in '60s speed equipment), extensive body modifications utilizing only 30 percent of the original sheetmetal, 18- and 20-inch wheels, and conceptualized brightwork that maintains the original design of the body trim. The paint: metallic silver.

Wind-In-The-Hair Windsor
George Poteet's Sniper was based on a "raggy" Mopar motif, so Foose thought a '53 Chrysler Windsor DeLuxe convertible would also be a likely candidate for a 4,000-plus-mile follicle ventilator. The original weak six would be replaced by one of Mopar's rocking 528-inch Hemis (heh, heh), surrounded by smoothed-off sheetmetal (frenched headlights, a nose and deck job, and a mild bumper rework and emblem removal) and rolling on a modernized suspension with 18s and 20s.

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Foose envisioned a subtly wedged shag-nasty with a laid-back windshield, a one-piece lift-off top, a sectioned hood, and fabricated bumpers-on top of a tube chassis. The hand-crafted body trim would reflect the original brightwork. One-off custom wheels and a racing silver paint job complete the winning Windsor package.

Lightbulb Turn-On
Mid-'50s Fords make wonderful starting points for a quiet-to-riot restyle. The often overlooked '55 Ranch Wagon is a natural for a subtle rework:

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Minor emblem removal and five-spokes on all four corners make a succinct statement. The wagon's original powerplant and suspension would be updated with new and modified replacements. You could choose a single color or a two-tone scheme.

Foose figured the "riot wagon" would retain only 50 percent of its original sheetmetal. New mods would include a concept top, reworked fins, highly massaged bumpers to accentuate the lower body lines, flared wheel openings, billet 18- and 20-inch wheels, and an engine compartment full of SVO-inspired 351 Windsor or Boss 429.

Crowning Glories
If draggin' wagons put your lights out, then eyeball this crowning pair of '55 Vics. Foose feels that Ford's Crown Victorias don't need a lot of eye candy to draw attention, so the quiet version would feature the removal of the door and decklid handles and the hood emblem. Then throw in a rebuilt and lowered suspension, 20-inch wheels, and a 351 Windsor under its smooth skin. Black and silver paint would be cool, but we like pearl white and candy-apple red-the same color combo as that on our 50th anniversary "clone star."

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Now check out our radical Crown Royal, a total concept car that combines a radically reworked top with equally outrageous front fenders, door openings, and quarter-panels. Naturally, the wheel openings and body reveals would be totally altered, in keeping with the turn-on profile. The roof bar and stretched-out "v" side trim are still part of the package, as are the bumpers, which are molded into the bottom of the body. Twenty-inch billet wheels retain the original hubcap design and support a tube frame and custom-built front and rear suspensions. The powertrain components come from a Mark VIII Lincoln, and the paint is pearl white on top with a contrasting silver body.